AIPG Association for International Promotion of Gums

Industry

Gum arabic as tree resin from the acacia species Acacia Senegal or related species is an indispensable economic factor in the African countries of origin (Sudan, Nigeria, Chad, etc.). From there it is exported to the main customer countries on a considerable annual scale (in 2018: 62.800 tons to the EU, 15.600 tons to the USA, 1.900 tons to Japan). Further industrial processing takes place there regularly (e.g. by spray drying) and used mainly in the food industry. The product is no longer only used as a classic additive for food and feed, but with increasing economic potential also as bulk material („fibre“) in a wide variety of food products. In this association, the key players in the supply chain work together from origin to further processing; it has established itself as an important link between producers and exporters in the countries of origin and importers and processors in importing countries. In addition to gum arabic, the association also takes care of other approved additives such as gum tragacanth, karaya gum and guar gum.